System of a Down created a huge hype for the nu-metal scene back in 2001 with an album called "Toxicity"; to this day the mentioned album is still a best seller in many stores and we can hear many people talking about the greatness of this album. I bought this album a while ago, I heard it a lot of times I liked it the first few listens, but after a while it bored me big time and then I even sold it to a weird kid with an emoish hairdo.

This is not a bad album at first sight, the first listens you'll find good guitar structures, catchy songwriting and even a lot of funny lyrics which, for example, talk about a guy who has a pogo stick and every single person wants to play with it but can't because there is just one pogo stick at the party with so many friends ("Bounce"). So as you might know, this kind of things are cool the first 3 times you read it, but when you hear it the fifth time or the sixth time it becomes really boring and idiotic.

The album fails in continuity, and this is the epitome of good albums you know? Most albums MUST have good schemes for you to hear it 50 times without a problem, SOAD was not able to achieve this task. Then the riffs are not powerful at all, the backing vocals are just hideous and really fucking annoying (f.e. "Needles") the drumming is monotonous, there's no strength whatsoever in the whole album and it becomes a "nerd"/idiotic/ridiculous release.

This album is not as good as many people think, there are good moments with schizoid riffs and crazy paces ("Psycho") but that's it, most features "good" decompose badly after a week or so. Not even "Chop Suey!", which was one of the most praised tracks in nu-metal history, manages to create a constant interest for the audience, just imagine the rest of the songs.

So this is an average nu-metal release, certainly I've heard better albums and also I've heard worse ones. Is it really that good? Not at all, it's totally disposable; I just keep thinking "why in the fuck didn't I download it first". This is exactly the kind of album which makes metal-heads hate nu-metal, it gets a lot of hype and everyone talks about how great it is, but in the end it's just a plain, average, middling and nerdy release, nothing more nothing less.

Thanks for the great review, finally some one that has a bit of musical taste, and see that "funny" doesnt mean "good," their music might be somewhat creative, but please what the fuck are they smoking to writte those shitty lyrics. And where the hell did does guys learn how to play/sing. Well this album pisses me off, and I cant believe how many people like it! Nu metal is already shitty enough, but when you add this kind of lyrics, you just cant be taken serious... And if you bought this album, please next time just buy a gun and kill yourself you'll be doing a huge favor to humanity. God, how can this kind of crap sell so much?

Thanks for the great review, finally some one that has a bit of musical taste, and see that "funny" doesnt mean "good," their music might be somewhat creative, but please what the fuck are they smoking to writte those shitty lyrics. And where the hell did does guys learn how to play/sing. Well this album pisses me off, and I cant believe how many people like it! Nu metal is already shitty enough, but when you add this kind of lyrics, you just cant be taken serious... And if you bought this album, please next time just buy a gun and kill yourself you'll be doing a huge favor to humanity. God, how can this kind of crap sell so much?

Same can be said about Iron Maiden

Remember that time in grade 4 when you shit your pants in gym class? That was Iron Maiden's fault. Remember that time when you were 6 and your dog got hit by a car and your parents told you he ran away? That was Iron Maiden's fault. Remember that time when your parents told you you were adopted, and they're considering returning you to the orphanage? That was Iron Maiden's fault. Remember that time when your therapist told you about how you seem to be perpetually stuck in the mentality of a 12 year old? As you can guess, that was also Iron Maiden's fault.

Question; Have you ever made a negative post on here that doesn't contain the words Iron Maiden? Actually, scratch that, have you ever made a positive post on here that wasn't paranoid bitching?

This album is good - I think the fact it was released in part of the 'Nu-Metal' era when Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park and Korn emerged all made them seem like SOAD were part of that same crowd and gave them a demeaning image. But musically they're much more 'metal'. I think the era this album was made was unfortunate, but for the album to be so commercially successful makes this album one hell of an achievement.

I have to commend this band, they're one of a few bands I know that speak about real issues around us... and that gives their songs a lot of lyrical content and meaning. My ears have evolved long since the SOAD days but every now and again I come back for the good memories and for something a little different. One last note, i'm glad they're back and might see them in 2011.

It has some great tunes,but it also has some fucking annoying songs.after the first 2 times I heard Bounce I couldn't stand it anymore.though, I think songs like ATWA,deer dance,chop suey and etc. were able to save the album.:banger:.
I don't think it's a real nu-metal record though,it's more alternative metal.

I can't understand why this album gets consistently bashed, and labeled as nu-metal, i mean yeah it came out during that era, yes the guitars are downtuned, but historically new metal had a lot to do with rap influences and shitty repetitive riffs. This album is classic, if it could be considered nu-metal its one of the only good new metal bands. I have been listening to it pretty consistently since it came out, and i still find it to be a unique hell of a fun album, that brings a lot of good social commentary mixed with Serj's great since of humor, i respectfully but HIGHLY disagree with a 6 i would say at least an 8 or 9

You realize this is a political band? This albums deserves at least an 8.

Illog1cal - 25.05.2012 at 19:44

When you listen to Death metal most of the time like me, the guitar riffs in albums such as this lose their impact and the songs can get very repetitive. However you have to realise that there a lot of saving graces on this album. Some songs definitely do get tiresome, such as 'Bounce', 'X', 'Forest', 'Atwa', however others are ingenious. The reason why they are ingenious is that the lyrical content is unparalleled, the first time I listened to Chop Suey I honestly had no idea it was about suicide. When you listen to the songs you at first think they are simple, but then you realise there is a much deeper meaning to some of them as the layers fall away. The same cannot be said for many bands unfortunately. Oh and btw this is not nu metal...

they are simple, but then you realise there is a much deeper meaning to some of them as the layers fall away. The same cannot be said for many bands unfortunately. Oh and btw this is not nu metal...

They are insane band.

Lyrically, they attack politicians, corrupt bureaucrats, crash down the whole corrupted political system, drugs and more importantly sexual intercourse( Violent Pornography!).
"Fuck the System" was their first track that i started listening to and honestly in 2003 it sounds great. I thought they will have a great career and gonna outstrip "LP" "Korn" "P.O.D." and many other Nu-Metal acts which the then ruling the charts.

This band has always favored for their controversial lyrical themes rather than music. You know...." Armenian Genocide of 1915 " and then "War" "Terrorism" and I was reading somewhere that now they will cover some "Afghan war" "Nato shit" and whatever. If i getta time I still give a couple of spins to their back catalog and enjoy the most.

Andro Maximus - 10.11.2014 at 06:23

Good review for a painfully mediocre album. No amount of time will disguise the fact that the songwriting is weak. I don't hear much effort or inspiration on this album. A classic to some perhaps, but a waste of time for me.

I personally don't agree that this album is their "classic" album, but I also don't agree with the review. Sure, you have a sort-of polarized album between good songs, and bad songs, but to be fair, the good outweighs the bad with this release. IMO, I see it like this:

Obviously Herzebeth, you are not a SOAD fan.
Maybe Toxicity is not awesome, but it's a good album. I've been listening to their music since then; yes, it's different and weird at times, but still a fun listen; I guess it was not meant to be taken seriously, it's just for fun. Although it has its fare share of heavy riffs and catchy melodies.

Obviously Herzebeth, you are not a SOAD fan.
Maybe Toxicity is not awesome, but it's a good album. I've been listening to their music since then; yes, it's different and weird at times, but still a fun listen; I guess it was not meant to be taken seriously, it's just for fun. Although it has its fare share of heavy riffs and catchy melodies.

Should albums only be reviewed by fans of the band? The website would just be full of 8-10 ratings for every album in that case.

Obviously Herzebeth, you are not a SOAD fan.
Maybe Toxicity is not awesome, but it's a good album. I've been listening to their music since then; yes, it's different and weird at times, but still a fun listen; I guess it was not meant to be taken seriously, it's just for fun. Although it has its fare share of heavy riffs and catchy melodies.

Should albums only be reviewed by fans of the band? The website would just be full of 8-10 ratings for every album in that case.

Gotta admit that you have a point there; but even so, I guess reviews are just a hint of what to expect from an album; I myself have learned that many times the reviews are misleading, because at times I end up liking an album which had a bad review or the the other way around.

Obviously Herzebeth, you are not a SOAD fan.
Maybe Toxicity is not awesome, but it's a good album. I've been listening to their music since then; yes, it's different and weird at times, but still a fun listen; I guess it was not meant to be taken seriously, it's just for fun. Although it has its fare share of heavy riffs and catchy melodies.

Should albums only be reviewed by fans of the band? The website would just be full of 8-10 ratings for every album in that case.

Gotta admit that you have a point there; but even so, I guess reviews are just a hint of what to expect from an album; I myself have learned that many times the reviews are misleading, because at times I end up liking an album which had a bad review or the the other way around.

Many albums I like have bad reviews and many I loathe have good reviews. It's just like any form of media. I wouldn't really let a review put me off if I really wanted to check something out. I do like reviews and reading others opinions, but I would always want to judge for myself